Netball girls chosen for Scottish squad

Three Shetland netball players have been chosen for the under-17 Scottish squad with another narrowly missing out but still having another year at the age group.

Ann Marie Kennerley from Yell, 15, Emma Leask from Lerwick, 16, and Inga Woods, 16, and Sophie May Leyland, 16, both from Gulberwick, took part in a two-day trial at the newly-opened Alistair McCoist Complex in East Kilbride which saw their fitness, skills and game play tested.

Over 80 girls from across Scotland tried out for the squad with the selectors making their first cut after the first day of trials, down to a squad of 35 girls. Ann Marie was unfortunate not to make it through to the next day of trials but at 15 she is at the younger end of the age group and still has next year to trial.

The second day of trials was tougher as the competition became fiercer and the standard of play was raised. The three Shetland girls, who all play for the first division AHS netball team, again were pushed to their limits, having to demonstrate their skills and stamina as they completed a number of movement, passing and footwork drills. They then put straight into games where they had to compete in the hope of making the final select squad of 20 players.

At the end of the day the three Shetland girls were told that they had been successful in making the squad. They now face full weekend training sessions once a month which will work on their fitness, speed and conditioning, skills and game play.

Shetland Junior Netball Development Group secretary Vicki Henderson said that all the girls had done extremely well at the trials, demonstrating the talent Shetland has to offer in terms of netball players. ‘We are proud of the girls for working so hard to get here and support them fully through all their training.’ The girls will train as part of the U17’s Scottish squad before coaches make their final cut to a team of twelve which will attend the U17’s Netball Europe Championships in March.